WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JULY 29, 2021 23
Knights of Columbus launch fundraiser for restoration
of Forest Hills church’s vandalized statues
BY JENNA BAGCAL
JBAGCAL@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@JENNA_BAGCAL
A Queens-based nonprofi t recently
received a generous donation, which
went toward several improvements
for the organization’s food pantry.
On Thursday, July 22, Commonpoint
Queens thanked community member
David Abraham, who, with the help of
his friends, raised $5,605 aft er learning
about the nonprofi t’s food pantry
on 67th Road and 108th Street in Forest
Hills.
Abraham met with food pantry
director Jay Rojas and was moved to
action by their work in helping people
experiencing food insecurity. The
donation went toward upgrading the
pantry’s storage garage with air conditioning,
insulation and new double
doors.
“A friend in need is a friend indeed.
These are words I live my life by. I was
so moved by what I saw, I knew I had
to do something. I’m grateful for the
work being done here to help people
in need and proud to be a part of it,”
Abraham said.
Last year, over 1,400 individuals
and organizations made donations to
Commonpoint Queens, which benefi ted
not only the food pantries but also
other eff orts like a week’s worth of
meals for seniors, telehealth services,
career counseling and technology for
students in need.
According to Commonpoint, its food
pantries in Forest Hills and Little Neck
are “barrier-free, dignifi ed spaces” for
the individuals who utilize them. Clients
are able to order their groceries
using a digital system and make pickup
appointments at their convenience.
The nonprofi t manages two food
pantries in Forest Hills and Little Neck.
The hours are as follows:
Forest Hills Food Pantry, 108-13 67th
Rd.
• Monday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3
to 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and
3 to 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Little Neck Food Pantry, 58-25 Little
Neck Pkwy.
• Monday through Friday, from
8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
To learn more about Commonpoint
Queens’ food pantry or other critical
services, visit commonpointqueens.
org/emergency.
Those interested in making a donation
can visit commonpointqueens.
org/donate or contact Judy Vladimir at
jvladimir@commonpointqueens.org.
From left: Food pantry coordinator Jay Rojas and David Abraham.
Photo courtesy of Commonpoint Queens
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Aft er two statues were vandalized
at Our Lady of Mercy Roman
Catholic Church in Forest
Hills last week, organizers have
launched a GoFundMe campaign to
raise funds to replace the 84-yearold
statues.
The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic
fraternal organization dedicated
to promoting and conducting educational,
charitable, religious and
social welfare works, are seeking to
raise $25,000.
Brian Allen, who organized
the fundraiser on behalf of the
organization and the church, said
they’re honored to work with Our
Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy
to help raise the necessary funds
to restore the statues.
“We were all saddened and hurt
by last week’s senseless attack,”
Allen told QNS in a statement.
“However, the support from the
community has been overwhelming.
It has been truly humbling and
inspiring to see over 125 families
quickly step forward to support our
campaign, which has already raised
almost $20,000 in less than a week.”
Donations can also be sent directly
to the rectory at Our Lady
of Mercy Church, located at 70-01
Kessel St. in Forest Hills.
In the early morning of July 17,
the statues of the Blessed Mother
and St. Therese the Little Flower
that have stood outside of the Forest
Hills church since 1937, were
dragged across 70th Avenue where
they were smashed with a hammer,
according to the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The following day, police released
surveillance footage of a female
suspect vandalizing the statues. The
video shows the woman repeatedly
slamming the statues to the ground,
causing them to break. The woman
then fled the scene.
Police say the suspect is in her
mid-20s, with a medium complexion,
average build and wearing all black
clothing.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Unit and
the 112th Precinct are investigating
the incident. Anyone with information
is asked to call Crime Stoppers
at 800-577-TIPS (8477).
Anyone with information in regard
to this incident is asked to call
the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline
at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish,
888-57-PISTA (74782). The public
can also submit their tips by logging
onto the Crime Stoppers website
at nypdcrimestoppers.com, or on
Twitter @NYPDTips.
Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn
Local resident donates $5K to Forest Hills food pantry
/nypdcrimestoppers.com
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